Method and system of evaporative emission control for hybrid vehicle using activated carbon fibers

Abstract

An evaporative emission control system for a hybrid vehicle comprises a scrubber containing an activated carbon fiber material selected to adsorb butane and / or pentane isomer vapors in low concentrations in air passing through the scrubber and apparatus for resistive heating of the activated carbon fiber material to help desorb the adsorbed butane and / or pentane isomers during a period when the internal combustion engine is operating for combustion of the desorbed vapor in the engine. The fibers are conductive and heat by resistive heating when electric current is passed through the fibers by the apparatus.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to methods and systems for evaporative emission control for hybrid vehicles, and more specifically to methods and systems for reducing and preventing vapor emissions from fuel tanks of such vehicles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Gasoline typically includes a mixture of hydrocarbons ranging from higher volatility butanes (C4) to lower volatility C8 to C10 hydrocarbons. When vapor pressure increases in the fuel tank due to conditions such as higher ambient temperature or displacement of vapor during filling of the tank, fuel vapor flows through openings in the fuel tank. To prevent fuel vapor loss into the atmosphere, the fuel tank is vented into a canister that contains an adsorbent material such as activated carbon granules (“evap” canister).[0003]The fuel vapor is a mixture of the gasoline vapor (referred to in this description also by its main component, hydrocarbon vapor) and air. As the fuel vapor enters an inlet of th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In still other features, the evaporative emissions control system for a hybrid vehicle uses activated carbon granules that may be derived from wood and activated carbon fiber material derived from phenolic fibers, particularly novoloid fibers. The activated carbon fiber material may be in the form of an activated carbon fiber felt or mat, and may be rolled with a sheet of coarse foam (e.g., urethane foam) to reduce pressure drop through the scrubber. In certain embodiments, the evaporative control system may reduce bleed emissions to below 3 mg / day, particularly below 2.0 mg / day.

Problems solved by technology

One problem encountered by such a system has been vapor breakthrough, or hydrocarbon emissions from the vented vapor adsorption canister, which is often referred to as canister bleed emissions.

In a hybrid vehicle, however, the internal combustion engine is turned off nearly half of the time during vehicle operation.

A hybrid vehicle generates nearly the same amount of evaporative fuel vapor as does a conventional vehicle, however, with the result that the lower purge rate of the hybrid vehicle is not sufficient to clean the adsorbed fuel out of the evap canister, resulting in higher evaporative bleed or breakthrough emissions. FIG. 1 demonstrates the difference in bleed emissions, using air purging in a conventional vehicle with only an internal combustion engine and in a hybrid vehicle.

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